Improvement in metal wedges



J. KELLY.

MET-AL WEDGE.

Patented MarchlS, 1877.

MN/5AM... I

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE,

JAMES KELLY, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF HISRIGHT TO MICHAEL DALTON, OF SAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT'IN METAL WEDGES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 188,376, dated March13, 1877 application filed February 2, 1877.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, JAMES KELLY, of SanFrancisco, in the State of California, have invented an Improvement inMetal Wedges, of which the following is a specification:

My invention relates to a new construction ofa wedge adapted to be usedin connection with any suitable driver for use in excavating andgrading, to break off and remove masses of earth; and it consistsinmaking a hollow wedge, or'one with an aperture in its upper end, adaptedto receive an iron head to take the blows of the driver, which iscapable of being removed after the wedge is driven into the ground and alever substituted for it, and by the combined action of the lever andthe wedge the mass of earth is pried or broken off.

In the accompanying drawing, Figure 1 is a perspective View of the wedgeand its removable head. Fig. 2 is aseparate perspective view of thewedge, and Fig. 3 a similar View of the lever.

E represents the wedge, constructed preterably of cast metal, and usedin connection with any suitable driver for excavating purposes, but moreparticularly designed to be used with a wedge-driving machine for whichI am about to apply for Letters Patent, and is cast with an opening inits head or broad end, and a wood or iron head, F, with a stem of thesame size as the hole. is placed in it to receive the blows of. thedrop, and to protect the wedge from being battered orinjured by theblows. This head Fis removed when the wedge is driven into the earth,and a lever or handle, G, made with a broad end to tit the wedge, isemployed in operating it to pry and break 0d the mass of earth in frontof the line of wedges; and by the use of these parts the work of gradingbanks, excavating for buildings, ditching, and similar operations, isdone with saving in the time and labor, and with the employment of fewerlaborers than in the old method of digging.

Having thus fully described my invention, I

what I claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

The cast-metal wedge E, having a hollow end, in combination with theloose head F and loose lever G, substantially as described and shown.

JAMES KELLY. [L. s.] Witnesses: SAML. S. MURFEY, G. W. M. SMITH.

